In Kansas, severe thunderstorms often include hail. Sometimes that hail can be enormous. State climatologist Mary Knapp looks at some of the largest hailstones ever recorded, including one documented in Coffeyville and another in Wichita.

Summer thunderstorms are often described as monsoons because of the heavy rain associated with the storms. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the comparison is to the conditions that are common in Asian monsoons. However, “monsoon” is actually a seasonal wind pattern.

A thunderstorm that struck Selden, Kansas in 1959 demonstrates how hail can sometimes be confused with snow. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the confusion occurs because hail is sometimes recorded as frozen precipitation.

You probably won’t ever see a hurricane warning issued for Kansas, but state climatologist Mary Knapp says the state has experienced some of the remnants of a hurricane. The result was two days of heavy rain in southeastern Kansas.

The earth’s gravity traps a gaseous shell or “atmosphere” around the planet. According to state climatologist Mary Knapp, one of the most variable components and the most interesting from a meteorological standpoint is water vapor.

A capped inversion is a layer of relatively warm air aloft, usually several thousand feet above the surface. Rising air is relatively cooler than this layer, limiting its ability to continue to rise. State climatologist Mary Knapp says this can slow or prevent the development of thunderstorms.

According to the calendar, summer begins June 21st. However, if you ask several people when summer begins, you’ll probably get several different answers. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that’s because people associate the start of summer with other events.

There have been a number of devastating tornado outbreaks this spring. State climatologist Mary Knapp recalls several tornado outbreaks that occurred in different years, but on the same date – June 8th – resulting in multiple deaths, injuries and damage.

Kansas is located in the Continental Climate Zone – which means the oceans and Great Lakes are so far away they have little tempering effect on our weather. As a result, state climatologist Mary Knapp says Kansas can be much hotter and colder than the coasts.

When forecasters talk about a low pressure or high pressure system, they’re referring to atmospheric pressure – the force exerted by the atmosphere over a particular point. It’s measured by various types of barometers and state climatologist Mary Knapp says what can make it confusing is that the pressure is reported as both station pressure and sea level pressure.

Generally, rainfall rates of half an inch per hour or greater are considered high intensity. But there are exceptions. For example, days where only a quarter of an inch of rainfall was recorded for the day, but there water was running in the streets. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that would qualify as high intensity if it occurred in a five minute downpour.

Kansas City experienced one of its worst natural disasters in the spring of 1957. That’s when an F4 tornado moved through the suburbs, killing 44 and injuring more than 500. Following the tornado, state climatologist Mary Knapp says there was evidence of just how strange the wind fields can be during a tornado.

Residents of a town in north central Kansas experienced a tornado on the same day for three consecutive years. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the tornadoes got stronger each year, causing more damage, injuries and eventually one fatality.

Kansans often joke that “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” But there’s actually a lot of truth to that statement. State climatologist Mary Knapp explains how the temperature and relative humidity are used to calculate the heat index.

Determining if a weather event from today, such as a high temperature or a snowfall, is actually a record is more difficult than it sounds. State climatologist Mary Knapp says determining the significance of a weather event depends on the time period used for comparison.

May averages more tornadoes in Kansas than any other month. These tornadoes can result in widespread damage, injuries and deaths. State climatologist Mary Knapp recalls a massive F5 tornado that struck Kansas in 1927 and destroyed nearly 100 farmsteads.

Mammatus is the hanging protuberances or pouches on the undersides of clouds. Mammatus are often considered to be a sign that severe weather would soon follow. But is that fact or just an old wives’ tale? State climatologist Mary Knapp provides the answer.

The word “training” is sometimes used to describe storms. But what does it mean? State climatologist Mary Knapp says training refers to storms that rebuild and move along the same path, often producing heavy rain.

There are many folk remedies for protecting people and buildings from lightning. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp says to forget the folk remedies and concentrate on the modern safety rules if you want to avoid getting struck by lightning.

During severe weather, most people are scanning the skies for cumulonimbus clouds. State climatologist Mary Knapp says these clouds, which form huge columns or towers that flatten at the top, are associated with thunder and lightning and closely associated with severe weather.

Recent heavy snows in Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota made national news with snowfall totals of up to 18 inches. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp says the worst spring storm to hit the west occurred in 1958 and it was measured in feet.

It’s been a spring mostly absent of days that felt like summer. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp reminds us of the damage overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet or UV radiation can cause, including sunburn, skin cancer and cataracts. She discusses the precautions we can take to protect ourselves from overexposure to the sun.

The date for last freeze in southeast Kansas, which was April 8th, is the earliest average date for last freeze in Kansas. However, in northwest Kansas, the latest average date for last freeze isn’t until May 8th. State climatologist Mary Knapp says those are just average dates for the last freeze and that it’s possible for a freeze to occur in late May.

Sheet lightning and heat lightning both occur when lightning is diffused by clouds. With severe weather season here, state climatologist Mary Knapp explains the difference between the two types of lightning.

Severe weather season in Kansas has arrived. Tornadoes – because of the damage they can cause and the potential for loss of life – often get most of the attention when talking about weather-related safety measures. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp says we should also be aware of the dangers associated with flooding.

Whether we say it’s a gully washer, frog strangler or raining cats and dogs, there are a number of phrases used to describe heavy rainfall. State climatologist Mary Knapp explains why those various phrases are used.

Burt Bacharach won an Oscar in 1969 for the song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head from the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Did you know it’s possible for raindrops to fall, but not hit your head? State climatologist Mary Knapp says not all raindrops make it to the ground. This is called virga.

The combination of rain in April and the warmer weather in May tends to bring about an abundance of blooming plants. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that’s why there’s a lot of truth to the saying “April showers bring May flowers.”

The weather on April Fool’s Day can sometimes seem like a cruel trick. There have been several memorable weather events on April 1st. State climatologist Mary Knapp says one weather event was particularly cruel.

An air mass primarily refers to a body of air with uniform properties that developed over a specific area of the globe. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the region where an air mass forms helps identify its properties.

Tornadoes get a lot of attention, but thunderstorm winds are typically more frequent and cause more damage. State climatologist Mary Knapp says two of the most damaging winds associated with thunderstorms are straight-line winds and downbursts.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation, which has a much shorter cycle than a normal El Nino cycle, can strongly affect the wintertime jet stream and atmospheric circulation features over the North Pacific and western North America. State climatologist Mary Knapp explains how this impacts winter weather in the United States.

There is a saying that if it rains bubbles, the rain will last three days. According to state climatologist Mary Knapp, two factors have to be in place to produce bubbles in a puddle. And, often these factors are enough to produce a lengthy rain.